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Fall 2023 Newsletter

Message from CIO/AVP Patty Kahn

As we embark on the Fall 2023 semester, I would like to share below some updates that Information Technology Services worked on over the summer. Highlights include a variety of ways you can use technology to stay informed, provide online support for students, as well as a few updates on IT initiatives.  Be sure to also review the “coming soon” section at the end.

Let’s kick things off with a quick video located on our Information Technology Services website that showcases our services and incredible teamwork from the IT Staff. 

https://www.csi.cuny.edu/online-resources/office-information-technology-services

Customizing your Outlook Calendar to import Campus Events
IT received inquiries on whether it is possible to integrate CSI events posted on the website homepage directly into your Outlook Calendar. The College community requested a more dynamic approach to seeing the schedule of campus events versus the current approach that requires you to check the website for updates.

We are pleased to announce that IT has configured an iCal feed, which imports the events as a separate calendar feed (color coded). Please follow these instructions (Contact OITS for an ADA compliant version)  to integrate events into your Outlook Calendar. For future access, the instructions can be found on the IT Online Resources page as well as at the top of the event listing page.

System notifications
Why am I having trouble connecting? Is the wireless down? Is it the network? Coming soon, you will get the answers by visiting the upcoming “IT Alerts” page. This will visually show the status of our wired and wireless network connections. And it is also mobile friendly! As a reminder the website, M365 (email), LMS (BlackBoard), CUNYFirst, and CUNYBuy are not hosted by IT; therefore, connections to these services cannot be monitored.

Online Resources Page

Housekeeping was performed on the online resources page where obsolete links were removed, and the design is now less cluttered. Please use this page as your primary source of reference when looking for solutions to some of your technology related questions.

Are students ready to learn online?

A special workshop for students was offered that covered the following topics:

  • Technology resources
  • How is the virtual classroom different from a physical classroom?
  • Balancing Time, Space, and Focus
  • Accessing your Class in Blackboard and Zoom
  • Various modalities of online learning

If you would like IT to offer these workshops again, please feel free to contact Doriann.Hyland@csi.cuny.edu

Also, see our website dedicated to students learning online .

  • Networking
    CSI has been included in CUNY’s capital network upgrade initiative. As we wait for CUNY IT to finalize procurement, CSI IT performed life cycle replacements in 2A and 1P.
  • Technology upgrades as follows:
    • 4S116 Psychology lab upgrade
    • 1N003 Engineering lab upgrade
    • SSD upgrades
    • Lab images and Software updates, including Stata17
    • Smartboard upgrade in 3S203
    • PC installation for Social Work
    • Mac installations – Graphics lab, Photography, Drama, including setup and configuration of faculty/staff devices
    • Laptops for Accessibility & St. George
  • Life Cycle Replacement (LCR):  
    ​​ Replaced more than 100 computers in various areas through LCR

ChatGPT workshop for students

Tuesday, October 17th, 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm, 3N-102  
Please use our registration page to register.

  • M365 offers more than just Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. 
    • OneNote – create electronic notebooks similar to a loose-leaf binder, to keep office and class notes.
    • Bookings – integrated with your M365 calendar, Bookings allows students to quickly find available times to meet with you.